WCSO helps elderly, disabled people prepare for flooding

RENO, Nev. (KRNV & MyNews4.com) -- While sandbags are a huge help for many people, some elderly and disabled members of our community can't physically put the bags out. One local woman contacted News 4 for help. 3

"The man next door to me is 90, the lady beside me is 80, I'm 70," Monica Chatelle said.

Chatelle's property in South Reno has flooded four times.

"The last time it happened was 2005," Chatelle said. "They had to rescue me because there was so much water running under my house."

Chatelle says the water surrounding her home totaled her car and destroyed her land.

"I even had a box that stuck up on the fence," Chatelle said. "That's how deep the water got."

As a senior with a heart condition she can't protect her home herself. So News 4 put her in touch with the Washoe County Sheriff's Office.

Monica explained to them that she can't move sandbags herself and that she lives alone. She got a call just a few minutes later.

Chatelle called News 4 this afternoon said volunteers from the sheriff's community work program came out and put what she guesses are about a hundred sandbags on her property.

If you're elderly or disabled and need help protecting your home with sandbags, they might be able to help you out too. You can call Sunday from 6 a-m to 2 p-m to ask for assistance. The phone number is 785-4239.